As we all know, 2018 sees the centenary of the end of the First World War.

​Perhaps less well known is that J.M.Barrie wrote several short plays during the war years. Four of these were published as Echoes of the War in 1918 (before the War actually ended) Along with Der Tag (1914) these works offer some interesting insights and perspectives regarding attitudes and lived reality during the period 1914-1918.

A century on, in 2018 the J.M.Barrie literary society will be commemorating Echoes of the War by supporting community projects throughout the country.

Are you interested in holding a community project around Echoes of the War?

This might be rehearsed readings or performances, a read-athon, or other activity related round the following short plays: Der Tag (1914), The New Word (1915), The Old Lady Shows her Medals (1917), Barbara’s Wedding (1918) and A Well –Remembered Voice (1918).

The J.M Barrie Literary Society is developing a Resource Pack which will be available from April 2018 and will launch officially in May. This can help you present your own activity/event. We may also be able to offer direct support for events in Scotland if you can cover our expenses.

To express interest or for further information please email us jmbarriesociety@gmail.com

The first edition of the JM Barrie Literary Society Journalwill be published on 9th May 2018.Our theme is ‘Perspectives on J.M.Barrie.’ We are looking for contributions on this theme.Articles between 500 and 3,000 words are acceptable for considerationSubmissions must be received by 9th February 2018.All accepted articles from non-members will receive free membership for 2018 and a free copy of the journal.Please send your article to jmbarriesociety@gmail.com or contact us if you have a specific idea you want us to consider.

We are happy to announce that the J.M.Barrie Literary Society is joining forces with McStorytellers to encourage new, young writers.

We are co-sponsoring the project 18in18 which launches on 11th November 2017 and runs till 11th November 2018.

​The project is aimed at those who will be 18 in the year 2018, asking them to reflect creatively on how life has changed since 1918.

To find out more about this project please click HERE and if you know any young people please share the information. If you have any ideas how further to promote this project please email us! We’re keen to reach out as widely as possible. Note, it’s not a competition, there are no ‘prizes’ but stories will be published on the McStorytellers website during 2018 and hopefully be compiled into a publication in time for November 2018.

As part of our ongoing collaboration with McStorytellers, J.M.Barrie’s Young Men I have Met will be serialised there on Wednesdays from November 15th. Go towww.mcstorytellers.com and follow the McSerial link.

We are happy to announce new editions to be published on 2nd October 2017 of Sentimental Tommy and the sequel Tommy and Grizel. These Literary Society editions each feature an introduction by Dr Sarah Green which helps to contexualise these compelling but challenging reads. You can order them direct from the J.M.Barrie Literary Society collection at the unco store HERE

Barrie has hit the headlines this month with the announcement by American Magazine The Strand (a new iteration of the 'classic' magazine of the 19th century which published Sherlock Holmes among many others) that they are publishing a previously unpublished collaborative work by Barrie and his friend E.V.Lucas - titled The Reconstruction of a Crime. You can find out more about it HERE

Bur even more 'sensational' is the news that the first texts in the J.M.Barrie Literary Society series are available for purchase RIGHT NOW.

In response to member's requests we're working to publish a special JMB Literary Society series of paperbacks of his lesser known and harder to access works.

You can get a window into Thrums with 'Auld Licht Idylls', 'A Window in Thrums' and 'Margaret Ogilvy together in one volume HERE

The second collection comprises 'Better Dead, the four plays of 'Echoes of the War' and 'Farewell, Miss Julie Logan and you can buy it HERE

And coming soon we will have new editions of Sentimental Tommy and Tommy and Grizel.

We are also working on further titles, so please keep in touch to find out which will be next...

80 years ago today on the 19th June 1937 - Sir J.M.Barrie died. Ironically for a journalist turned novelist/dramatist, Barrie died late Saturday 19th June – too late for the papers.The Saturday Edition of the Dundee Courier reported that he had ‘gained a little strength throughout the day and his condition is less critical.’The news broke on Monday 21st June with a raft of obituaries in the press.His funeral was held in Kirriemuir on Thursday 24th June at Kirriemuir. At the time of his death, while his talent and 'genius' were acknowledged, the 'style' of a lot of his work was less appreciated and of course it is from such sources that generations of literary critiques are made.Now, 80 years on, I suggest it is long overdue that we re-appraise his work - by going back to the texts themselves. It's time for a new generation to 'discover' all that there is to love about Barrie's writing and for those whose view has been dimmed or blurred by generations of 'fashion statements' or debates about the 'high' and 'low' brow nature of fiction - time to engage with him first hand. You may be very pleasantly surprised.

There's never been a better time for a visit to Thrums! And from today you can buy the J.M.Barrie Literary Society's new paperback edition of Auld Licht Idylls, A Window in Thrums and Margaret Ogilvy.Buy Direct from the unco online book store HERE or get it free (UK only) with a membership of J.M.Barrie Literary Society HERE

We're excited to announce that in response to overwhelming demand from members for good, cheap, reading copies of Barrie's work, we are working on a new series of paperback editions of Barrie's works. It will be called the J.M.Barrie Literary Society edition. The first volume will be out in time for the 80th anniversary of Barrie's death on 19th June 2017. You can place your order HERE in advance of publication. The first one is a collection of Thrums related works: Auld Licht Idylls and A Window in Thrums are in good company with Margaret Ogilvy. All for under a tenner! FREE COPY FOR THE FIRST PERSON TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE TARTANS AND TELL US WHY THEY ARE RELEVANT.​email us at jmbarriesociety@gmail.com with your guess. ​

A week ago today a good number of folk both local and from further afield, gathered at the Barrie Pavilion to celebrate the 157th birthday of J.M.Barrie, and to give birth to a new Society. The J.M.Barrie Literary Society begins life with over 40 members all of them interested in reading Barrie's work, talking about it (and eating cake where available!) If you missed the event, below are a few pictures and if you click HERE you can read the speech given by Cally Phillips at the event.

Barrie's name in lights in the dressing room.

Some of our founder members!

We are currently hard at it getting the first JuMBLiS Newsletter together for members. It will be out by the beginning of June and will be delivered to members email inboxes bi-monthly. Please bear with us, there's a lot to do in a short space of time to get this all up and running.